Judges
The Climate Challenge Cup brings together innovations from the UK and US to celebrate local solutions to global climate issues. As part of the competition sector experts, academics and community leaders from either side of the Atlantic will form our judging panel. These leading figures will review applications and shortlist finalists ahead of COP26.
***More Judges to be announced***
“The Climate Challenge Cup showcases the need for people from different parts of the system - government, universities and communities - to work together on creating a regenerative, rather than extractive, society.”
Daze Aghaji
Climate and Justice Activist
At just 21 years old, Daze Aghaji is one of the UK’s leading climate justice activists. In 2019, she ran for election as a Climate and Ecological Emergency Independent in the EU Parliamentary elections (being the youngest candidate to do so) while studying History and Politics at Goldsmiths, University of London.
Aghaji has advised major NGOs like Esmee Fairbairn Foundation on regenerative cultures, intersectionality, environment, youth political engagement and social change funding, and is now a trustee of the Balgrave Trust. She is also an active member of Extinction Rebellion.
“I believe tackling climate change is a winnable fight because of the climate and cleantech ecosystem across the globe that’s committed to working hard today to create a better tomorrow for all of us. I can’t wait to review the innovative partnerships coming through the Climate Challenge Cup.”
Dr Emily Reichert
Chief Executive Officer of Greentown Labs
Dr. Emily Reichert is CEO of Greentown Labs, the largest climatetech startup incubator in North America, headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts, and recently opened in Houston, Texas. As the organisation's first employee and a self-proclaimed climate optimist, Emily has spearheaded the rapid growth of Greentown Labs into a global centre for climate action, attracting visitors and partners from around the world.
Emily has been appointed to leadership positions on innovation, economic development, entrepreneurship and clean technology commercialisation at the city, state and federal level including Massachusetts Governor’s Economic Development Planning Council and the U.S. Secretary of Commerce's National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Recently, she was named one of Business Insider's "100 People Transforming Business - North America."
“The climate crisis demands innovative solutions developed as partnerships between researchers, businesses, decision makers and communities. The Climate Challenge Cup is a great way to focus attention on some of these breakthrough ideas.”
Professor Alex Halliday
Founding Dean of Columbia University Climate School and Director of The Earth Institute
Director of the Earth Institute since April 2018, Halliday previously spent more than a decade at the University of Oxford, during which time he was Dean of Science and Engineering.
Working across multiple disciplines, he has long had an interest in collaborating to galvanise action on climate change, both while at Oxford, and in working with the UK’s Royal Society.
Currently he is continuing in this theme by launching the Columbia Climate School, which will bring together expertise from across and around Columbia to form a trans-disciplinary New York hub designed to make a bigger difference on climate change.